Control system



G. DE CROCE May 6, 1941,.

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 16, 1940 iii f4 44 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

Patented May 6, 1941 C'BNTROL SYSTEM Gennerc De Croce, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 16, 2940, Serial No. 314,082

6 Claims.

the apparatus. These previously known systems, 1

however, require a very considerable amount of complicated and expensive apparatus and are, therefore, expensive to manufacture, install and maintain and, in addition, require the use of more than a single control or signalling channel between the stations.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a remote control system for controlling and supervising the operation of a single apparatus unit at a remote station which shall be simple and eiiicient in operation, and which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for remotely controlling and supervising the operation of an apparatus unit at a remote station over a single control or signalling channel.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which illustrates a remote control system for a circuit breaker embodying the principal features of the invention.

In practicing my invention, the closing solenoid 2 of a circuit breaker 4 at a remote station is controlled by a closing relay 6 which, in turn, is controlled by a slow-to-release control relay 8. The trip device it], of the circuit breaker, is connected to be controlled by the control relay 8 and by automatic means such as an overload relay l2.

lhe closing relay 6 and the control relay 8 may be selectively controlled through unidirectional current conducting devices such as rectifiers l4 and I6 over a single control or signalling channel comprising a pair of conductors l8 and 28 which are selectively energized with potential of the desired polarity at the control station by means of a manually operable control or selector switch 22, a manually operable operating switch 24 and cooperating slow-to-release auxiliary relays 26 and 28.

An indicating relay 30 at the control station, which is controlled by the circuit breaker 4, may be utilized to control the closed and open position indicators, such as lamps 32 and 34, and also in connection with the selector switch 22 to control the disagreement signal devices 36 and 38.

Considering the system more in detail, a suitable source of direct current power such as a battery 4E! is provided at the control station and any suitable source of potential indicated by the plus and minus signs is provided at the remote station. It is to be understood that the source of potential at the remote station may be either direct or alternating current, the plus and minus signs being employed merely as a convenient manner of indicating the terminals of a source of potential.

The control or selector switch 22 comprises movable contact elements 42, 44, 46 and 48 simultaneously actuable by any suitable operating means such as an insulating bar 5E1. In the lefthand position indicated in the drawing, the contact elements 42, 44, 46 and 48 engage contact elements 52, 54, 5G and 58, respectively, and in the right-hand position they engage contact elements c2, 64, B6 and 68, respectively.

When it is desired to actuate the circuit breaker 4 from the open position, as shown, to the closed position, the selector switch 22 is actuated to the right-hand position. An energizing circuit is thereby established for the disagreement signal devices 36 and 38 extending from the positive terminal of the battery 4!], through the conductors Hi and 72, back contact element 14 of the relay 39, conductors 16 and 78, contact elements 68 and 43, conductor 8b, the parallel circuits through the signal devices 36 and 38 and conductor 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 4%..

At the same time the auxiliary relay 26 is energized through a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through conductors l0 and 12, contact element 14, conductors l6 and 13, contact elements 68' and 48, conductor til, contact element 84 of the relay 28, conductor 85, the winding of the relay 26 and conductor 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

The operation switch 24 is next manually operated, energizing the auxiliary relay 28 in a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through conductors 10, 12, 88 and 9! contact element 92 of the relay 30, conductor 94, contact elements 66 and 46, conductor Qt, contact element 98 of the operation switch 24, conductor Ito, the winding of the relay 28 and conductors I62 and 82 to the minus terminal of the battery.

40 through the conductors The operation of the auxiliary relay 28 deenergizes the auxiliary relay 26. The relay 26 does not immediatel return to deenergized position, however, as it is a slow-to-release relay.

The control relay 8 is energized by the actuation of the operation switch 24 and the operation of the auxiliary relay 28 in a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through conductors i0, 12, and I04, contact element I06 of the relay 26, conductor I08, contact elements 64 and 44, conductor I I0, contact gized position, its contact elements I06 and I28 will be moved to open circuit position, thus opening the circuit of the control relay 8. The control relay 8 will not drop out immediately, however, because of its slow-to-release characteristic.

With the control relay 8 actuated, the closing relay 6 will be energized in a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery I9, I2, I04, I34 and I36, contact element I38 of the relay 26, conductors I40 and I26, contact element I 24 of the relay 28, conductor I22, contact elements 62 and 42, conductor I20, contact element II8, conductors II6, I8 and I42, the rectifier unit I4, conductor I44, the winding of the closing relay 6, conductors I46 and I48, contact element I50 of the control relay 8, conductors I52 and 20, contact element I I2, conductor I I 8, contact elements 44 and 64, conductors I08 and I54, contact ele ment I56, conductors I58 and I30, current limiting resistor I32 and conductors I34 and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40. The closing relay 6 closes its own holding circuit through its contact element I60 by closing a shunting circuit for the contact element I50 of the control relay 8 which extends from the conductor I46 through the contact element I66 and the conductor I62 to the conductor 26.

When the closing relay 6 is actuated, it closes the energizing circuit for the closing solenoid 2 of the circuit breaker 4 which extends from the positive terminal of the source of power through conductor I64, contact element I66 of the closing relay 6, conductor I68, the winding of the closing solenoid 2 and conductors H and H2 to the negative terminal of the source of power. Meanwhile the control relay 8 has dropped out to its deenergized position.

The next operation is the manual release of the operation switch 24 which is returned from the advanced to the original retracted position by a biasing spring member I'M. With the operation switch 24 in the retracted position, the auxiliary relay 28 is deenergized by the movement of the contact element 98 to open circuit position. The closing relay 6 will also be deenergized as the contact element I I8 of the operation switch 24 is moved from its advanced circuit closing position. When the auxiliary relay 28 drops out of its contact element I16 closes an energizing circuit for the indicating relay 30 which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through the conductors I0 and I18, contact element II8 of the operation switch 24, conductors I8 and I42, the rectifier unit I4, conductor I44, the contact element I of the circuit breaker closing mechanism 2, conductor I82, the contact element I84 of the closing relay 6, conductors I86, I62, 20, and I88, contact element I of the operation switch 24, conductor I92, contact element I16, conductor I94, the winding of the relay 30, and conductors I96, I02, and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

The operation of the indicating relay 38 will open the disagreement alarm circuit by moving the contact element I4 to open circuit position. The open indication lamp 34 will be deenergized when contact element I4 moves to open circuit position, and the closed indication lamp will be energized by the movement of the contact element I98 to closed circuit position in a circuit which extends from the positive side of the battery 40 through conductors I0 and 260, contact element I98, conductor 202, indicating lamp 32 and conductors 204 and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

Thus the circuit breaker 4 will be held in closed position by the latch of the trip device I0 and the lamp 32 will indicate the closed position of the circuit breaker at the control station.

When it is desired to open the circuit breaker 4, the selection or control switch 22 is manually moved to the left-hand position, as shown in the drawing. This will energize the disagreement signal devices 36 and 38 through a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through the conductors I0 and 200, contact element I98, conductors 202 and 206, contact elements 58 and 48, conductor 80, the parallel circuits through the signals 36 and 38, and conductor 82 to the negative terminal of the bat tery 40.

The contact element 48 also completes an energizing circuit for the auxiliary relay 26 extending from the positive terminal of the battery 46 through conductors I0 and 200, contact element I98, conductors 202 and 206, contact elements 58 r and 48, conductor 80, contact element 84, conductor 86, the winding of the relay 26 and conductor 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

The operation switch 24 is next manually actuated to the advanced position against the bias of the spring member I14. The indicating relay 30 will remain energized in a circuit which extends from the positive terminal of the battery 40, conductors I0 and I2, I04, and I34, contact element 208, conductor 2I0, contact element I60, conductors 2 I2 and I94, the winding of the relay 30, and conductors I96 and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

The actuation of the operation switch 24 will also energize the auxiliary relay 28 in a circuit extending from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through the conductors I0, I2 and 88, contact elements 56 and 46, conductor 96, contact element 98, conductor I00, the winding of the relay 28 and conductors I02 and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 40.

The operation of the auxiliary relay 28 will cause the auxiliary relay 26 to be deenergized by moving the contact element 84 to open circuit position. The relay 26, however, being a slowto-release relay will not drop out until after a time interval.

The control relay 8 is also energized by the actuation of the operation switch 24 in a circuit extending from the positive terminal of the battery 40 through the conductor 10, contact elements 54 and 44, conductor H0, contact element I I2, conductor 20, the winding of the relay 8, conductor H4, the rectifier unit [6, conductors l8 and H6, contact element H8, conductor I20, contact elements 42 and 52, conductor 2M, a current limiting resistor 2i5, and conductors 2I8 and 82 to the negative terminal of the battery 48.

The operation of the control relay 8 will causeits contact element 220 to move to closed circuit position to energize the circuit breaker tripping circuit extending from the positive terminal of the source of power at the remote station, through conductor 222, contact element 220, conductor 2224, contact element 226 of the circuit breaker closing device, conductor 228, the winding of the trip device l0, and conductor Hi to the negative terminal of the source of power.

The operation switch 24 is now released and is moved from the advanced to the retracted position. The energizing circuit for the indicating relay 30 is opened by the movement of the contact element I96 of the operation switch 24 from advanced to retracted position and the relay 30 drops out, opening the closed indication lamp 32 and the disagreement signal device circuit at contact element l98 and closing the circuit for the open indication lamp 234 at the contact element M.

The release of the operation switch 24 also deenergizes the auxiliary relay 28 at contact element 98, and the control relay 8 at the contact element H2.

Thus, the circuit breaker 4 at the remote station is tripped and returns to open position and the open indication lamp 34 indicates the position of the circuit breaker at the control station.

The circuit breaker 4 may also be opened by any automatic trip means such as an overload relay i2. The overload relay l2 may be connected in any well known manner to close its contact element 239 when a predetermined load occurs on he conductors controlled by the circuit breaker 4 as indicated. When the relay I2 operates it closes an energizing circuit for the trip device it extending from the positive terminal of the source of power at the remote station through conductor 232, contact element 238, conductors 234 and 223, the winding of the trip relay l9, and corn ductor I12 to the negative terminal of the source of power.

When the circuit breaker 4 has thus been automatically tripped and opened the contact element i8!) moves to open circuit position thus deenergizing the indicating relay 30 at the control station. The contact element 74 of the relay 3i! closes the circuit to the open indicating lamp 34 and the disagreement signals 38 and 38. The circuit of the closed indicating lamp 32 is opened at the contact element I98. The circuit breaker 4 may now be reclosed when desired by actuation of the operation switch 24, the system functioning to reclose the breaker, disconnect the disagreement signals, and energize the closed indicating lamp 32 as described hereinbefore.

It is to be understood that any movable element may be remotely controlled as described herein, the circuit breaker 4 being used in the description of the system as a convenient illustrative example of a remotely controllable element. Likewise, the trip relay 12 may be responsive to any desired predetermined condition at the remote station. Similarly, the signal devices 32, 34, 3t, 38 may be any suitable elements capable of giving an indication.

It is to be understood further that the two conductors l8 and 29 shown as connecting the control and remote stations represent a single channel which may be two wires, a single wire and. ground, or any channel of a duplex operated conductor system.

It will be seen that I have provided a control system which shall function to control and supervise the operation of remotely disposed apparatus over a single channel with a minimum of apparatus, and which shall be inexpensive to manuiacture, install, operate, and maintain.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes, I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown and described, but is capable of modification by one skilled in the art, the embodiment herein shown being merely illustrative of the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system for controlling from a control station an electrically operable device disposed at a remote station over a single conducting channel extending between the stations, in combination, a slow-to-release control relay at the remote station, means rendering said control relay and the electrically operable device responsive only to potentials of predetermined opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to the conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay connecting the electrically operable device to the conducting channel, first control means at the control station for applying a first potential to the conducting channel of the polarity to which said slow-to-release control relay is responsive, and second control means at the control station for removing the first potential and applying a second potentional to the conducting channel of the polarity to which the electrically operable device is responsive before said slow-to-release control relay releases.

2. In a system for controlling from a control station an electrically operable device disposed at a remote station over a single conducting channel extending between the stations, in combination, a slow-to-release control relay at the remote station, means rendering said control relay and the electrically operable device responsive to potentials of opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to the conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay connecting the electrically operable device to the conducting channel, first control means at the control station for applying a first potential to the conducting channel of the polarity to which said slow-to-release control relay is responsive, second control means at the control station for removing the first potential and applying a second potential to the conducting channel of the polarity to which the electrically operable device is responsive before said slow-to-release control relay releases, and an auxiliary relay and operating means therefor at the control station, said first and second control means including the front and back contacts of said auxiliary relay.

3. In a system for controlling from a control station, an electrically operable device at a remote station over a single conducting channel extending between the stations, in combination, a slow-to-release control relay and a closing relay at the remote station, means whereby said closing relay controls the electrically operable device, means rendering said control relay and said closing relay responsive to potentials of opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to the conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay for connecting the closing relay to the conducting channel, first control means at the control station for applying a first potential to the conducting channel of the polarity to which said slow-to-release control relay is responsive, second control means at the control station for removing the first potential and applying a second potential to the conducting channel of the polarity to which said control relay is responsive before said sloW-to-release control relay releases, and indicating means at the control station operable by said second potential and in accordance with the actuation of said electrically operable device for indicating the position of said electrically operable device.

4. In a system for controlling from a control station, a movable device at a remote station over a single conducting channel connecting the two stations, a first electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to one position, a second electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to another position, a closing relay connected to control said first electrically operable means, a slow-to-release control relay, means rendering said closing relay and said control relay responsive to potentials of opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to said conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay for connecting said closing relay to said conducting channel, means responsive to said movable device in said one position and the actuation of said control relay for energizing said second electrically operable means, first control means at the control station for applying to the conducting channel a first potential of the polarity to which said slow-torelease control relay is responsive, second control means at the control station for thereafter removing the first potential and applying to the conducting channel a second potential of the polarity to which said closing relay is responsive before said slow-to-release control relay releases, and third control means at the control station for thereafter removing the second potential and applying the first potential.

5. In a system for controlling from a control station, a movable device at a remote station over a single conducting channel connecting the two stations, a first electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to one position,a second electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to another position, a closing relay connected to control said first electrically operable means, a slow-to-release control relay, means rendering said closing relay and said control relay responsive to potentials of opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to said conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay for connecting said closing relay to said conducting channel, means responsive to said movable device in said one position and the actuation of said control relay for energizing said second electrically operable means, first control means at the control station for applying to the conducting channel a first potential of the polarity to which said slow-torelease control relay is responsive, second control means at the control station for thereafter removing the first potential and applying to the conducting channel a second potential of the polarity to which said closing relay is responsive before said slow-to-release control relay releases, and third control means at the control station for thereafter removing the second potential and ap plying the first potential, and indicating means at the control station operable by the second potential and in accordance with the position of said movable device for indicating at the control sta tion the position of said movable device.

6. In a system for controlling from a control station, a movable device at a remote station over a single conducting channel extending between the two stations, a first electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to one position, a second electrically operable means at the remote station for causing said movable device to move to another position, a closing relay connected to control said first electrically operable means, a slow-to-release control relay, means rendering said closing relay and said control relay responsive to potentials of opposite polarities, circuit means connecting said control relay to the conducting channel, circuit means including said control relay for connecting said closing relay to the conducting channel, means responsive to said movable device in said one position and the actuation of said control relay for energizing said second electrically operable means, auxiliary energizing means for said second electrically operable means, selectively actuable control means at the control station comprising first control means thereat for applying to the conducting channel a first potential of the polarity to which said slow-to-release control relay is responsive, second control means at the control station for thereafter removing the first potential and applying to the conducting channel a second potential of the polarity to which said closing relay is responsive before said slow-torelease control relay releases, a third control means at the control station for thereafter removing the second potential and applying the first potential, first indicating means at the control station operable by the second potential and in accordance with the position of said movable device for indicating at the control station the position of said movable device, and other indicating means at the control station responsive to said first indicating means and said selectively actuable control means for indicating when said auxiliary means has energized said second elec' trically operable means.

GENNERO DE CROCE. 

